By Louis Hoglund
Plans for the new Perham Municipal Liquor Store will be discussed at a special city council meeting, May 18, 7:30 a.m. at city hall.
The discussion will revolve around preliminary designs created last year by Baker, Hogan and Haux Architects. The new store will be built near the new Dean's Country Market, along Highway 10.
Plans call for a store double the size of the present downtown facility in the lower level of city hall--known as "Landmark Liquors."
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It's unclear whether the store will retain the "Landmark" title, which relates to the distinctive "steeple" feature of the Perham City Hall. However, one of the exterior design concepts calls for a similar, steeple-like structure that would carry the "landmark" theme to the new location.
"Nothing has been approved. That's why the meeting is scheduled, so we can start narrowing things down," said Randy Hendrickx, liquor store manager. "Nothing is cast in stone at this point."
In general, the new store will be about 4,800 square feet--compared to the present store of 2,500 square feet, said Hendrickx. Expanded wine selection, more imported beer and a doubling of cooler space are also in the plans.
The decision to relocate the liquor store from downtown to the highway location was debated for several months, with many downtown merchants concerned the highway location would contribute to a decline in the downtown business district. After many meetings and discussions by an ad hoc committee, the city council voted late last year in favor of moving the store.
